Means for providing explosive mixtures.



B. L. RINEHART.

MEANS FOR PROVIDING EXPLOSIVE MIXTUBES.

APPLICATION FILI-:D FEB. 20, 1914.

41104114.1411!!!l/MMIWMz/M/ll/I@ @Mum/woz I MLM/Im g' ,lf I/ BENTLEY L.RINEHART, OF PHILADELPHIA,

PENNSYLVANIA.

MEANS FOR PROVIDING EXPLOSIVE MIX'IURES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan.. 22, i918.

Application led February 20, 1911i. Serial No. 819,996.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, BENTLEY L. RINEHART, a citizen of the United States,and resident of Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, and State ofPennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Means for ProvidingExplosive Mixtures, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a construction of carbureterfor gas engines which shall accurately proportion the amount of gasoleneor hydrocarbon fluid relatively to the amount of air which is drawnthrough the carbureter by the operation of the explosive engine, sothat, irrespective of the various speeds of the engine an absolutelycorrect explosive mixture is insured to the engine, and thereby theoperation of the engine is made positive and accurate under all varyingconditions of speedV and loads.

In the ordinary manner of operating carbureters, the air is drawn freelythrough the carburetor into the engine cylinder, (directly, in a fourcycle engine and indirectly through the crank casing, in a two cycleengine) and the rush of the said air is caused to suck in the necessarygasolene or hydrocarbon in a haphazard manner to produce the explosivemixture. As theair suction varies with the different speeds of theengine, it'is evident that the composition of the explosive mixture isconstantly varying, and therefore causinga defective operation of theengine. When the engine is running very slowly (especially in the caseof a tWo cycle engine), the hydrocarbon fluid is not supplied insufficient quantities to insure a good explosive mixture. Various meansand methods have before been employed for the purpose of assuringapproximate proportions of hydrocarbon fluid and air to suit thechanging speeds of the enginegthus, for example, as the engine slowsdown and the suction decreases, the gasolene needle valve is adjusted toopen the gasolene supply to a greater extent for permitting a freer flowof the gasolene, and vice versa. Such methods of temporary adjustmentare undesirable, first, because they are wholly unsatisfactory andwasteful, and secondly, because they require the constant attention ofthe operator. By my improved invention, I provide a carbureter by whichan accurate admixture of the air and the hydrocarbon fluid is requiredto take place for all speeds of the engine, so that at no speeds isthere any material variationA in the actual composition of the explosivemixture which is fed to the cylinder.

My improved carbureter is so constructed that.no variation in the amountof suction in the engine can affect the relative quantity of gasolene orother hydrocarbon which is supplied automatically to any given quantityof air, and for this reason, my improved carbureter is adapted to anyengine, whether two cycle or four cycle, and operates under the sameaccurate conditions, irrespective of the speed of the engine or anyvariations in its speed or load. Furthermore, my improved carb-ureterrequires no adjustments and consequently can beapplied and used by anynovice without the least possibility of its failing to insure thepredetermined requirements.

My invention, in its preferred form, con` sists of a carburetorcomprising a body having rotatable air measuring parts which are formedso light in weight and properly suspended that they revolve freely underthe suction of the engine, automatically running faster or slower as thespeed of the engine increases or decreases. These parts are preferablypropelled by the rush of the air through the carbureter under thesuction produced by the engine and constitute the air measuring devicesthus stated. With these air measuring devices I combine hydrocarbonfluid measuring devices, so formed as to measure definitelypredetermined amounts of hydrocarbon fluid with each revolution of theair measuring devices, said fluid measuring devices being coupled orgeared to the air measuring devices so as to be driven thereby.

By means of this combination of air driven and measuring devices andhydrocarbon fluid measuring devices, a definite and predeterminedquantity of hydrocarbon fluid is pumped or fed into the definitemeasured quantity of air with each revolution of the air measuringdevices, so that the rate of supply of hydrocarbon fluid is at all timesaccurately proportioned to the rate of supply of the air from thecarburetor to the engine.

I further provide my improved carbureter devices above stated with meansfor regulat ing the relative proportions of the hydrocarbon fluid to themeasured quantities of air so that the carbureter may be adjusted tosuit special conditions of the atmosphere,

ies'

construction which, together with the features above specified, are morefully described hereinafter and defined in a claim.

My improvements will be better understood by referring to the drawingin'which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a carburetcr embodying myimprovements with a portion broken away; Fig. 2 is a sectional plan viewof the same, taken on line -'m of Fig. 1;

lFig. 3 is a sectional elevation of the same 20 taken on line y-y ofFig. 2; and Fig. 4 is a plan view of a disk of the hydrocarbon pumpmechanism.

2 is the casing of the air measuring devices and asshown issubstantially as if two cylinder cases were merged together side by sideand opening into each other. 3 is an inlet to the interior of the casingand 4 is an outlet (preferably at the top) and connects, ordinarily,with the intake pipe of the engine. Within each of the two cylindricalportions of the casing is arranged a freely revolving measuringcylinder, said cylinders journaled in the casing at 7, and

geared together by gearing 8. These cylinders are respectively marked 5and 6 and have inner and outer cylindrical portions, the latter closelyapproximating the diameter of the casing portions and the former 4 beingso arranged that the inner diameter of one cylinder coperates with aportion of larger diameter of the other cylinder, and vice versa, toform a relatively closed direct passage from the inlet to the outlet andthereby causing the cylinder portions to oppositely rotate in a mannerto` deliver measured quantities of air from the inlet to the outlet witheach revolution. The general construction of these air measuring devicesis somewhat similar to the well known pressure blowers, but are lighterin construction and more accurate in fit, with a greatly decreasedresistance, as in this case the rotating cylinders are preferablyrequired to be rotated and perform work by the suction of the airpassing from the inlet to the outlet, whereas in the blowers-a positivepower by belt, or otherwise, is employed to forcibly rotate therotatable members to produce a pressure of the air. In the case of myimprovement, the air passes through the casing at substantiallyatmospheric pressure, instead of under compression as in blowerapparatus.

The construction of the rotatable members `or cylinders 5 and 6 is suchthat the recessed of air with each revolution and transfer the air someasured from the inlet 3 into the space or chamber communicating withthe outlet 4, where the hydrocarbon fluid is introduced by the orifice23. In practice, I prefer to make the rotatable members 5 and 6 of sheetmetal so that they are very light and capable of freely rotating underthe draft produced by the suction of the engine. Each revolution ofthe'rotatable members 5 and 6 measures a definite quantity of air, andthis is true, irrespective of variations in speed oferevolution.

Combined with the measuring devices for the air, above described, Iprovide measuring devices for the hydrocarbon fluid and these latter arepositively operated by the former so that their speeds are proportionalto each other and commensurate with the duty to be performed. While themeasuring device for the air is a motor, the measuring device for thehydrocarbon fluid may be essentially a pump and is mechanically drivenby the motor. I will now describe a suitable measuring or pumping devicewhich is of that construction which I prefer in practice foraccomplishing the purpose of my invention. 11 is a case formed of twocylindrical portions blending into each other, as is customary in rotarygear pumps, but in this instance they are much deeper than the thicknessof the interengaging gears 10 and 15, thecylindrical portion containingthe latter being made much the deepest, as indicated at 18. The gear 1Qis connected with and rotated by a shaft 9, which is an extended portionof the rotatable air measuring member 5. Arranged in the casing 11 belowthe gear 10, is an annular or ring part 12, which is stationary andhaving curvature which corresponds to that of the perimeter of the gear10, and between which and the outer wall of the case 11 the gearrotates. The gear 15, which meshes with the gear 10, is preferably ofthe same diameter and also snugly fits the case portion 13 as todiameter. This gear 15 is journaled between the follower disk portions14 and 16, the latter being circular and of a diameter equal to theperimeter diameter of the gear portions thereof measure a definitequantity 15, and the former being of similar diameter but having acurved notch or recess 14a (Fig. 4) through which the teeth of the gear1'0 may travel. The disk portions 14 and 16 are secured together and areheld against rotating by the gear 10 acting as a spline for the notchedportion 14a of the disk 14. These two follower disk portions 14 and 16are adjusted axially of the gear 15 by a shaft 17 having ascrew-threaded end 19. This shaft is held in a stuffing box 18 so thatit may be rotated but atall times forming a liquid-tight connection withthe casing. The end of the shaft may be slotted membe to receive a screwdriver to turn it, or it may be rotatably adjusted in any other manner.By turning this screw-threaded shaft 17, the disks 14 and 16, togetherwith the gear 15, are adjusted in the casing. As shown, only a smallportion of the teeth of each of the gears 10 and 15 are in engagementand in this condition only a small measuring or pumping action isaccomplished; or in other words, only a. small quantity of hydrocarboniluid is measured with each revolution of the gears. By turning theshaft 17, the gear 15 may be brought more or less into /alinement withthe gear 10 to increase the extent of engagement and, to a correspondingdegree, increase the pumping and measuring action with each revolutionof the gears. By proper adjustment, the measuring or pumping action maybe from nothing to a maximum with each revo? lution of the gears and theair measuring rs; and Whatever the adjusted capacity may. be, it willremain the same for all speeds of rotation of the members 5 and 6.Moreover, the relative quantity of hydrocarbon to the air, supplied tothe engine, will remain the same for all speeds of the engine, as itshould be for the most efcient results. j

The'disks 14 and-16, acting as followers v of the gear 15, preventescape of the gasolene l tion, but in or hydrocarbon fluid from thecontrol of the gear; and the recessed follower 14 fitting snugly againstthe curvature of the annular or ring part 12, permits an adjustment ofthe former over the latter, while maintaining a comparativelyliquid-tight joint. The depth of the recessed portion 14a is equal tothe depth of the teeth of the gear 10, as will be readily understoo-dand is to provide a space in which the teeth of said gear may rotatewhen the pump or measuring device is pumping at less than its fullcapacity, such as by the adjustment shown.

While rotary gear pumps are well known and ordinarily a detaileddescription of their method of operation would not be required, it isdesirable to point out that such pump operates by displacement due tothe intermeshing teeth on the discharge side and that simultaneouslytherewith the liquid is carried from the supply side by the pocketsbetween the teeth of the gears as they travel around the curved'innerwall of the casing. Ordinarily, the amount of the conveyance anddisplacement is equal and constant and of the full capacity of the pumpper revolu my improved pump, the extent of interengagement of the twogears 10 and 15 will dictate or govern the amount of displacement andhence the normal capacity of the' pump per revolution for any particularadjustment; and this can be changed by .simply turning the adjustingscrew 17 in one direction or the other, according to whether anincreased or decreased pumpin capacity per revolution 1s required. T el1qu1d,

which lls the spaces between the teeth of the gears and is not displacedon the discharge side, is simply carried around and around, and beingnon-compressible, acts just as if so much of the gear spaces were filledup or cast solid. This construction of pump has capacity from nothing tothe full sumol:l the spaces etween the teeth, which coact to dis placethe fluid on the discharge side, per revolution of the shaft 9 and gear10. It is manifest that, while it is most desirable that the gears 10and 15 should be of the same diameter or pitch, this is not at allessential as the requirements will be satisfied if the teeth are of samepitch and shaped to prop erly engage; though where one of the gears 15for eXample,-is of smaller diameter, the tooth spaces are relativelylarger and the absolute' maximum capacity of the pump would be largerthan where both 'gears are of the same diameter; similarly, the smallerare the gears and larger the teeth, Greater will the total capacity ofthe pump e per tooth displacement, but, of course, the speed at whichthe pump is rotated must be increased to compensate for the fewer teethemployed.

The hydrocarbon fluid is supplied by pipe rom any source and ma bedelivered under gravity or pressure, an delivered into the inlet chamberor space 21 where it is received by the gear teeth spaces as abovedescribed. The hydrocarbon fluid in measured quantities is received inthe receiving chamber or space 21a and delivered by pipe 22 into thedischarge orifice 23 where it meets the air supply at the entrance tothe discharge outlet 4. It is pointed out that the rush of the air issufficient to insure quick vaporization of the hydrocarbon fluid toproduce a homogeneous mixture, but this is further insured owing to thefact that by the alternate action of the members 5 and 6 in deliveringmeasured volumes of air said air is caused to surge backward and forwardm the space near the outlet 4 before escaping therefrom and this aidsmaterially in disseminating the hydrocarbon vapor into a perfectadmiXture with the air before it passes to the engine.

The essence of my invention is to provide means for accurate admixtureof the air and hydrocarbon fluid before it enters the engineirrespective of the speed or changes in speed of the engine, so thatwhether it is ruiming' fast or slow, under light or heavy load, it willalways receive aproper mixture to insure development of full power,economical results and accuracy and positiveness in operation.

In this application I make no claim to the hydrocarbon measuringdevices, per ae, or as a pump, because the same is reserved for lll@ aseparate application therefor; and for the same reason, I do notrestrict myself to any particular construction of measuring mechanismeither for the hydrocarbon fluid or the air except as defined in theclaim, as these may be varied as desired so long as they mutuallycoperate to insure delivery and ultimate mixing of measured quantitiesof the elements of the mixture, with or Without capacity for adjustmentin the relative proportions of such measured air and hydrocarbon fluid.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

In a device of the character stated, a casing having inlet and outletpassages, a pair of freely revoluble intermeshing and geared devicesWithin the casing and between the inlet and outletpassages thereof formeasuring a cur ent of air passing 'through the quantities of air, meansleading from the delivery side of the pump into the outlet side of thecasing whereby the fluid is delivered and mixed With the measuredquantities of air, and means within the lpump proper for adjusting thecapacity o the pump for pumping fluid for each revolution thereof.

In testimony of which invention, I hereunto set my hand.

B. L. RINEI-IART.

Witnesses:

R. M. HUNTER, HORACE D. Runvn.

